Vehicle-body.



T. J. KEHOE.

VEHICLE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED 'AUG.2. 1911.

Patented Apr. 15,1919

amwntoz 7/70/7705 J. Kehoe following specification.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. KEHOE, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO THE WILLYS-OVEBLAND COMPANY,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

VEHICLE-BODY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed August 2, 1917. Serial No. 184,087.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. KEHoE, a citizen of the .United' States, residin at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Bodies, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle bodies and more particularly to improvements in the construction of the removable pillars used in vehicle bodies of the convertible touring sedan type and the means by which the removable pillars are secured in position relative to the top and body.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved mounting for a removable pillar by means of which the top is drawn toward the body so as to clamp the pillar between the top and body and hold it firmly against movement in any direction.

Further objects, and objects relating to economics of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a view in side elevation of a Vehicle body embodying my invention.

Fig. II is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional View, taken substantially on the line II-II of Figs. I and III.

Fig. III is a fragmentary, sectional View, taken substantially on the line IIIIII of Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a View in side elevation of the central portion of the removable pillar, showing the face plate and the ratchet mechanism for actuating the locking rod.

Fig. V is a detail, sectional view, taken substantially on the line VV of Fig. IV, and showing the operating wrench applied to the ratchet, the wrench being shown in dotted lines in the position for reverse rotation. 7

Fig. VI is a detail, perspective view of one of the keeper plates secured to the top and body respectively. i

Fig. VII is a detail, perspective view of one of the plates secured to the ends of the pillar for guiding the locking heads.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary, detail perspeotive view of one of the locking .heads.

Fig. IX is an edge view of an operating wrench, and

Fig. X is a top plan view of the wrench shown in Fig. IX.

In the drawings, similar reference nu-, merals refer to similar parts throughout the several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawings, I have shown a vehicle body 10,

.firmly and rigidly connected and held in place between top 11 and the body 10, in such a way that they cannot rattle or work loose or twist or turn, and so that they can be very rapidly and conveniently disconnected, so that they may be removed and stored away when notneeded. I

Recesses 14 are provided in the top 11 and the body 10 respectively and these recesses are covered and inclosed by the angle keeper plates, having a vertical portion 15 and a horizontal portion 16, said keeper plates being secured to the top and the body respectively, in position so that there is one of these keeper plates in line with each end of each removable pillar.- A cross-slot 18 is provided in the vertical portion 15, of the keeper plate, a short. distance above the, corner thereof and a narrow slot 17 is provided in the horizontal portion 16 of. the keeper plate and ommunicates, through the slot 19in the vertical portion 15, with the cross-slot 18-. A plate is secured to each end of each removable pillar 12, which plate has a vertical portion 21 and a horizontal portion 20, the horizontal portion being provided with a slot 22 extending, from the free edge thereof, inwardly to a point near the formed in the face of the pillar 12, the pillar being cut away at the central part thereof to form a central chamber 24 and being cut away at the endsthereof to formchambers 24', which are covered by the plates at the ends of the pillar. A rod 25 is disposed in the groove 23 and the ends of said rod are threaded, one end having a right handi thread as at 26 and the opposite end having a left hand thread as at 27. Looking members are provided for each end of the rod 25 and each has a neck30, which isdisposed in the slot 22 so that the member is prevented from turning, and a body portion 29, having a socket 28, threaded to correspond with the end of the rod 25 on which it is carried. A head '31 is provided at the upper end of the neck 30, which head is of such dimensions as to pass through the ross-slot 18 provided in the keeper plate.

Rings 32 are secured on the rod 25 near the central art thereof, disposed normally in the cham er 24, by means of the pins 35 and said rings are provided with the annular flanges 33 provided with the notches 3.4, which are made deep enough so that, in case the operating wrench is lost, they may be engaged by a screw driver so as to rotate the rod 25. These flanges 33 are spaced apart somewhat, as shown in Fig. IV of the drawings. The groove 24 is covered by the upholstering 39 and a face plate 40 is secured to the pillar by the screws 41 and has a central 'openin 42, through which the ratchet mechanism formed by the flanges 33 is accessible.

A wrench 36 is provided for* operating the locking rod, said wrench having'a head with a curved semi-circular notch 37 therein, which is adapted to engage the rod 25 between the flanges 33, and laterally extending lugs 38, which are adapted to engage in the notches 34 of the flanges 33. The curved portion 37 of the lever turns on the rod 25 and forms a fulcrum for the lever,

' while the lugs 38 engage the notches 34 in and left hand threads, on the opposite ends of the rod. The movement of the members away from each other will cause the heads 31 on the necks 30 to come in. line with the cross-slots 18 in the keeper members, and, when thishas been done, the pillarcanibe removed by a straight lateral movement,

causing the heads 31 to pass through the slots 18 While the necks 30 move in the slots 17. The pillar is put in place likewise by a' straight, lateral movement, in which the heads 31 pass through the slots 18 of the keeper member and when the pillar has been moved as far laterally as possible, the lateral movement being limited by the ends of the slots 17, the pillar can be locked in place by rotating the rod 25so as to draw the locking members on the ends of the rod toward each other. Thiscauses the head 31 .to' be brought behind'the vertical part "of the keeper member below the cross-slot 18, so that the pillaris held against lateral movement. This movement draws the top 11 toward the body 10 and the pillar 12 is clamped in place between the top 11 and the body The slots 22, in which the necks 30 of the locking members 29 engage,

serve to prevent these locking members from twisting or turnlng. In case the wrench 1s lost the rod may be rotated by means of a screw driver, which may be engaged in the notches 34 on the flanges 33.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention, which I have here shown and described, is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit. of my invention, but I have found that this particular embodiment'is desirable from many standpoints, and therefore I desire to claim my invention specifically, as well as broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

, Having, thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: V I

1. In a vehicle, the combinationof .a body; a top; aremovable pillar; a rotatable bolt carried by said pillar and engageablewith said top and body; and means intermediate the ends of the bolt for rotating the same to draw said top .toward said body to clamp the pillar between the two. 7

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a body;

' a top; a removable pillar; .a rotatable bolt housed within'said pillar; locking members carried by said bolt and engageable with said top and body respectively; and means intermediate the ends of the bolt'forrotating the same to draw said toptoward said body to'clamp the pillar between the two.

', 3. In a vehicle,the combination of a body;

' a top; a removable pillar; a rotatable bolt housed in said pillar; locking members having oppositely threaded connections with. the

ends of said bolt and engageable with said top and body respectively; and means for rotating said bolt. f'

4. In a vehicle, the combination of a body; a top; a removable pillar; keeper plates carried by said top and body respectively; look ing members engageable with said keeper plates and slidably but non-rotatably carried by said pillar; a rotatable bolt having the ends thereof in oppositely threaded engagement with said locking members; and means for rotating said bolt.

5. In a vehicle, the combination of a body; a top; a removable pillar; keeper members carried by said top and body respectively; and each comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, a cross-slot being provided in the vertical portion and a slot being provided in the horizontal portion, communicating with said cross-slot, the lower edge of said cross-slot being spaced a short distance above the horizontal portion; a plate secured to each end of the pillar and provided with a slot; locking members each provided with a neck by which said locking member is slidably mounted in said plate, each locking member being provided with a head adapted to pass through the cross-slot of the keeper plate; a. rotatable bolt, having oppositely threaded ends in screw-threaded engagement withsaid lock- Iiong members; and means for rotating said olt.

6. In a vehicle, the combination of a body; a top; a removable pillar; locking members engageable with said top and body respectively; a bolt rotatable to vary the distance between said locking members; a pair of flanged rings fixed on said bolt, the flanges of said rings being provided with spaced notches adated to be engaged by an operating wrencli.

7 In a vehicle, the combination of a body; a top; a removable pillar provided with a groove in its face; a strip of upholstery attached to the face of said pillar and covering said groove; a bolt rotatable within said groove; to draw the top toward the body to clamp the pillar between the two; means for rotating said bolt; and a face plate secured to said pillar and provided with an opening through which said bolt-rotating means maybe engaged.

8. In a vehicle, the combination of a body, a top, a removable pillar, rotatable means extending longitudinally of the pillar and having its ends terminating between said body and top, and means connecting said rotatable means with said body and top adapted to effect the clamping of the same upon the pillar.

9. In a vehicle, the combination of a body, a. top, a removable pillar, rotatable means extending longitudinally of the pillar and adjustable members upon said rotatable means connected with and adapted to be held against rotation by said body and top.

10. In a vehicle, the combination of a. body, a top, a removable pillar, rotatable means connected with the body and top and extending longitudinally of the pillar and pillar when rotated, and means intermediate the ends of said member by which the same may be rotated in opposite directions.

12. In a vehicle, the combination of a body, a top, a removable pillar extending between said body and top, a rotatable member mounted within a groove formed in the pillar, means connecting said rotatable member with said body and said top, and means for rotating said member within said groove.

13. In a vehicle, the combination of a body, a top, a removable pillar extending between the body and top, a rotatable connection extending longitudinally of the pillar and removable therewith, and members upon the opposite ends of said connection releasably engaging said body and top and adapted to be normally held in clamping engagement therewith by said connection, said members being moved to releasable position by rotation of said connection.

14. In a vehicle, the combination of a body, a top, notched plates secured to said body and top, a removable pillar extending between the body and top, a rotatableconnection extending longitudinally of the pillar and removable therewith, members upon the opposite ends of said connection releasably engaging said plates in the notches thereof and adapted to be normally held in clamping engagement therewith by said connection, said members being moved to releasable position by rotation of said connection.

15. In a vehicle, the combination of a body, a top, a pillar interposed between the body and top and removable therefrom while in upright position, and} a single rotatable member extending longitudinally of the pillar and having adjustable connections on the ends thereof for effecting the clamping of said pillar between said body and top.

16. In a vehicle, the combination of a body, a top, a removable pillar, means extending longitudinally of the pillar, from adjacent one end thereof adjacent to the other end thereof, and cooperating members therefor connected with said body and top, said means and members being relatively rotatable and operative to bind said pillar between said body and top upon a relative rotation thereof,

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS J. KEHOE.

Oopiel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patente, wuhiniton, D. O. 

